Landschap met kasteel op een berg 1666 - 1695

This is Jean Pesne's "Landscape with Castle on a Mountain," an etching from the 17th century, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The landscape is structured around a central body of water, with a castle perched atop a distant hill. Note how Pesne employs delicate, precise lines to render a scene that feels both idyllic and meticulously constructed. Pesne's approach is deeply rooted in the traditions of classical landscape painting. The composition, with its receding planes and balanced arrangement of elements, evokes a sense of harmony. Semiotically, the castle acts as a signifier of power and civilization, while the surrounding wilderness speaks to nature's untamed beauty. The artist carefully balances these contrasting elements. The artist utilizes line and perspective not merely to depict a scene, but to explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world, prompting us to reflect on our place within the landscape. Landscape is not only what is seen, but what is constructed through representation.